Coahoma County Election Commission and Executive Committees (Democrat and Republican) will hold party primary elections on Tuesday, June 7, with the polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Elections set for this summer and fall will see Clarksdale, Coahoma County and the Mississippi Delta vote for their U.S. Representatives.
“The Coahoma County Election Commission has worked diligently in the last few weeks to ensure that the voter rolls are accurate for this election,” said Demetria Jackson, Coahoma County Circuit Clerk.
“On the ballot for June 7, 2022, will include the races for the U. S. House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District for Coahoma County,” said Jackson. “The primaries for both Democrats and Republicans will be held simultaneously, and voters must know that they will have to declare the party ballot they wish to vote in.”
Those wanting to vote will be asked a party preference before they are directed to a voting machine that will only have that party’s candidates on the ballot.
“Now, is the time to register to vote prior to this election,” said Jackson. “If anyone has moved since the last election, please come by the Circuit Clerk’s office to get your voting record updated before the deadline of May 9, 2022.”
Jackson said the Circuit Clerk Offices will be open for Absentee Voting Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon
In the Democratic primary, longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, first elected in 1993 is running for re-election.
Thompson chairs both the House Homeland Security Committee and was picked by House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi to investigate the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Thompson has an estimated $1.7 million campaign fund, making him the odds-on favorite to retain this seat.
Democratic opponent Jerry Kerner, will be on the Coahoma County ballot.
There are four candidates for the Republican nomination for Congress. They are Michael Carson of Terry, Ronald Eller of Raymond, Brian Flowers of Clinton and Stanford Johnson of Meridian.
In the event no one gains a majority of the vote in the primaries, a runoff would be held June 28.
Party nominees will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
Jackson said anyone having a question about where they should vote on Election Day, or needing any other information, may contact her office in Clarksdale (662-624-3014) or stop by the Coahoma County Courthouse from 9-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
State law says anyone who seeks to influence the vote of any person by absentee ballot or offers anything of value for a vote, or destroys absentee ballots can be charged with voter fraud and upon conviction be fined not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 and be sentenced from one to five years in the state penitentiary, or both. The statute also includes those who offer to submit a ballot for something of value.
Questions or concerns about voting issues, policy and procedure for any election should be directed to the Secretary of State’s office at (601) 359-1350.
Questions or concerns about candidate qualifications, ethics and conduct while in office should be directed to the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division at (601) 359-4258.
Qualifications vary from office to office but the main requirements to be a candidate for public office are to be a resident and qualified voter from the ward, district or county they plan to represent. Candidates may not have been convicted of a federal crime or certain Mississippi crimes defined as felonies punishable by incarceration in a state penitentiary, unless they have received a full pardon. They also may not be convicted of a crime in another state that is considered a felony under Mississippi law.
Candidates cannot have been legally declared mentally incompetent.
PRIMARY ELECTION
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
U.S. House of Representatives
Second Congressional District
Democrat Primary Election
• Bennie Thompson
• Jerry Kerner
Republican Primary Election
• Michael Carson
• Ronald Eller
• Brian Flowers
• Stanford Johnson
